Weber wins multi-million dollar Motorola account

CHICAGO: Motorola hired Weber Shandwick as North America AOR for its Mobility company, effective two weeks ago. The company had issued an RFP in June, following news of a 2011 separation of its operations into two publicly traded companies-Mobility and Solutions.

Jennifer Weyrauch-Erickson, chief communications officer for Motorola Mobility, said the agency is engaged in a one-year contract for what unnamed sources confirmed to be a multi-million dollar account.

Though the official spinoff is slated for Q1 2011, the company recently completed the internal split. The agency has already begun to secure corporate, consumer, b-to-b communications, and digital objectives as well as plans for the brand and product portfolio, including mobile-converged devices and smart phones, wireless accessories, and digital home entertainment devices.

Weyrauch-Erickson said that the company originally issued the RFP in large part to consolidate agency partners prior to the split.

The review consisted of six agencies, including Fleishman-Hillard, which had previously handled PR for its mobile devices. Edelman, which had in the past handled the home products business, was conflicted out of this pitch due to its relationship with RIM. However, the company invited Edelman's Zeno Group to participate in the review.

“It's not because we weren't happy [with our current agencies], but because of the upcoming split and the divisions coming together,” she said. “It's a unique opportunity to capitalize on the convergence of media, mobility, the Internet, and computing.”

The company had previously worked with Weber on product launches associated with Verizon, a Motorola carrier partner and Weber client.

“Mobile and digital entertainment was a sweet spot for the firm,” said Susan Howe, president of Weber Chicago, referring to the agency's work with Verizon and the Droid X launch, which she described as “one of the most heralded device launches of the year.”

The team is currently working on defining its objectives and plans for 2011, she added.

Joelle Frank will continue to work with the company on financial communications for both Mobility and Solutions, and Edelman handles PR for Solutions including Motorola networks, government and public safety, and enterprise mobility. Fleishman handles some of the company's government affairs work.

Upon the recent internal split, the company hired Nick Sweers as VP of communication for Motorola Solutions, noted Weyrauch-Erickson. She added that it's premature to discuss potential review plans for Solutions.

She also confirmed that the Mobility company is not conducting an advertising agency review.